ST. GEORGE — For many, the St. George Marathon has become more than a race. It’s a way to connect with family.
Ben Neumann, the city’s Parks and Community Services assistant director, is among many who have experienced the marathon in many ways and across several generations. Neumann’s family has completed a total of 72 St. George Marathons.
“From the 1980s until now, the marathon has always been what my family does on the first Saturday in October,” said Neumann, who started as a race volunteer to cheer on his dad. Then on his 12th birthday, Neumann ran St. George for the first time.
“It made me realize that I can accomplish hard things if I make up my mind to do it,” said Neumann, who completed St. George Marathons on his 12th, 18th and 29th birthdays. “When I am presented with challenges in my life, I often reflect back to that first marathon and how easy it would have been to give up, but I kept going.”
Neumann said his most memorable runs came in 2015 and 2016, when he ran in honor of his in-laws who had died of cancer seven months apart. Combining the legacy of his in-laws with his desire to continue participating in the marathon, Neumann dedicated those races to his lost loved ones.
While his in-laws never were able to volunteer at the race, they were always there to cheer for him. He said the support he felt from those important people in his life made the ties with his hometown race even deeper.
So devoted to the tradition of the marathon, Neumann also ran the course in 2020 — despite the race being canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Through the early morning darkness, he ran while his wife waited for him along the road until the bright sun of St. George began to light the town.
“It was a different experience because I had more time to reflect on what I was actually doing,” Neumann said. “It felt nice to keep the tradition alive, even if it was just for myself.”
His mom and son held a homemade finish line for Neumann to cross as he completed his solo marathon.
“My father had also made me a wooden medal that I have next to my 17 other St. George Marathon medals,” Neumann said.
Neumann works among other members of the Parks and Community Services Department, which helps organize the St. George marathon every year.
“I think the St. George Marathon is a special race because it is in my hometown,” Neumann said. “The first seven miles of the race is so much fun because everyone is excited, chatting and laughing. I love seeing the crowds that gather to cheer us on as we run on the familiar and beautiful course.”
This will be the 47th edition of the St. George Marathon, dating to the first race in 1977.
The St. George Marathon was started by Sherm Miller, who also worked in the City’s parks and recreation department. With a love for running and approval from the City, Miller organized the first marathon, hosting only 58 total runners.
As the years went by, word of mouth began to draw in more and more participants, now with 5,000 runners entering the race each year.
With stunning scenery of Southern Utah’s iconic red rock sandstone mountains and warm temperatures, the marathon has been deemed a “marathon to build a vacation around” by Runner’s World.
The St. George Marathon is also the 13th largest in the country, with many running personal best times due to the 2,000-foot descent of the race.
The St. George Marathon is a USA Track and Field certified and sanctioned race, so participants can use their race times to qualify for events like the Boston Marathon, which is held every April.
Written by LINDSEY COZAD, city of St. George communications intern
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.